Dive
What Do I Do When Things Fall Apart?
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_cover.indd 201
Year 1, Unit 1
4/20/11 7:30:08 AM
Dive
What Do I Do When Things Fall Apart?
Year 1, Unit 1
Welcome to Dwell!...................................2
Tailoring Your Sessions
to the Ways Children Learn....................5
Session 1: Belonging to Jesus . ................6
Session 2: What We Need to Know........14
Session 3: In Need of Forgiveness.........22
Session 4: The Way We Are.....................28
Session 5: Our Just and Loving God .....36
Session 6: Jesus, Our Savior...................42
Printable Pages........................................52
Questions or comments?
We’d love to hear from you.
1-800-333-8300
editors@faithaliveresources.org
RCA Children’s Ministry Office
1-800-968-3943
childrensministry@rca.org
Dwell curriculum has been developed by Faith Alive Christian Resources in cooperation with the Children’s Ministry
­Office of the Reformed Church in America.
We are grateful to Sara Beaver Vogel for her work in developing this unit of Dwell. We are also grateful to April Hartmann
for drawing the illustrations in this unit.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION, © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Dwell
Dive (Grades 6-8)
Year 1, Unit 1: What Do I Do When Things Fall Apart?
© 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
All rights reserved. With the exception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. For information or questions about use of copyrighted material please contact Permissions, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI
49560, phone: 1.800.333.8300; fax: 616.726.1164; email: permissions@faithaliveresources.org.
Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN 978-1-59255-648-9
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 1
4/20/11 7:26:47 AM
Welcome to Dwell!
Split-second images, fast-food dinners, instant messages, and intense competition are
part of daily life for the young teens who walk through the doors of your church each week.
What if church was different? Not more of the same, but less? What if young teens had the
­opportunity to press “pause” on their fast-paced life so they could “be still and know that I
am God”?
Dwell is more than a curriculum—it’s a place where young teens and leaders pause to
­wonder . . . imagine . . . marvel . . . and dive into God’s story. Developed out of a desire to
provide children and young teens with less noise and more time to experience God, Dwell
creates an environment where young teens are offered opportunities to enter God’s story,
and then live into and live out of it together.
For information on the big things in Dwell, including the age-level characteristics of the
young teens in your group, the scope and sequence at each level, and the curriculum goals
and values, visit www.dwellcurriculum.org. Meanwhile, here are some questions and
­answers you might find helpful when using Dwell:
What’s in it for me?
You’re a leader, but you’re also a learner. So we added something just for you to every
­session. “Reflections” are short devotionals designed to take you deeper into the story with
background information, wondering questions, and teaching suggestions. Reading them
will help you prepare to teach . . . and grow!
What are “wondering questions”?
Wondering questions invite learners to dwell in God’s story as they consider the people in
the story, the choices they made, and how God was at work in their lives. They aren’t a test—
in fact they have no right or wrong answers! Wondering questions let you pause and reflect
on God’s story longer, allowing it to take root and grow faith. We’ve provided you with wondering questions for every story. Depending on the ages and attention span of your particular group, you may want to pause and wonder during the storytelling or wait until after the
story is finished to ask them—feel free to tailor the session to work with your group. And be
sure to ask what they wonder about too!
How do I tell stories in a way that connects with young teens?
Young teens know the difference between a story told from the page and one that’s told
from the heart. The best way for you to prepare is by reading the story out loud several times
at home. (Try doing so once a day for the week leading up to your session—you’ll be amazed
at the results.) Each session will also provide you with ideas for involving the members of
your group in sharing the story.
Does theology really matter in a young teens' curriculum?
Just because a curriculum contains Bible stories doesn’t mean it is designed to teach young
teens what they need to know. The ReHformed tips you’ll find throughout this guide are
your guarantee that every story is taught from a Reformed, God-centered perspective. It’s a perspective that views the Bible as a story about God—not about biblical heroes or morals or
us—and considers every story as part of the one big story of God’s redemption and restoration of this fallen world through Jesus Christ. The ReHformed tip box is your assurance that
we take what your group will be learning seriously; it explains our approach in every story
you’ll be teaching.
2
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 2
4/20/11 7:26:48 AM
What do I need to know about “Faith Modeling”?
It’s important to tell young teens God’s story, but you’ll make a bigger impact when you live
into God’s story together. One of the ways to do that is by sharing your faith with the young
teens in your group. Throughout the leader’s guide you’ll find “Faith Modeling” tips to help
you do that.
What do the multiple intelligence icons have to do with how young teens learn?
Studies have shown that people learn differently. If what we teach is going to impact young
teens, we need to pay attention to how we teach. Each activity in Dwell pays attention to the
ways young teens learn. The icons (see p. 5) are there to let you know which learning styles
each activity taps into the most. For more information on learning styles—and a fun quiz
you can give your group to find out how they learn best, visit www.dwellcurriculum.org.
What are “story symbols”?
Each Bible story in Dwell has its own story symbol. (You’ll find a complete set that you can
download free on our website, www.dwellcurriculum.org.)By providing the kids and
young teens with a pictorial timeline, these symbols help them see how all
God’s stories fit together to form one big story.
Tip
During the sessions you’ll use the story symbols to review where you’ve
been in God’s story and to wonder about where you’re going next. Here
are some suggestions to display your story symbols: hang up a new one
each week to form a border that runs along the wall; attach each new symbol to form a “patchwork quilt” on the wall; or clip symbols to a “clothesline” that runs along one wall.
Rearranging the symbols and
having your group re-hang them
is a fun way to review the
stories you’ve told!
How does Dwell help me partner with parents?
The Dive level of Dwell includes a devotional book for each young teen to use at home. Each
week three interactive reflections help to personalize the Bible story and doctrine that your
group talked about at church. Every reflection includes one or more “Think about It/Talk
about It” questions that could be discussed with a parent, mentor, or friend. Let parents
know about the Think about It/Talk about It section so that they can ask their young teens
about it.
In addition to the Dive devotional to spark faith conversations at home, we’ve provided you
with a simple way to send families a message about what’s going on in your group. You can
either print and distribute a reproducible letter to families or visit www.dwellcurriculum.org
to copy and paste the text into an email to send to families.
You’ll also want to point parents to www.nurturekidsfaith.org, where they’ll discover
practical tips for Christian parents and recommended resources.
3
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 3
4/20/11 7:26:48 AM
A few notes about music . . .
For the Imagine (grades K-1), Wonder (grades 2-3) and Marvel (grades 4-5) levels we’ve
put t­ ogether two song CDs called DwellSongs, one for each year of curriculum. On each
DwellSongs CD you’ll find songs that connect with the stories taught at each level as
well as Scripture songs chosen to help kids remember specific verses and/or phrases of
Scripture. We’ve also made all the songs available for a downloadable purchase at www.
dwellcurriculum.org/music. (We think the whole family will enjoy listening to the
DwellSongs CDs—you can purchase them for your families or direct parents to them at
www.faithaliveresources.org.)
Dive (middle school) Young teens are an eclectic bunch—they have a wide-ranging (and
ever-changing) taste in music, and their willingness to sing and dance may vary. Where
possible we’ve provided you with suggestions for songs at this level. Invite your group to
bring in their favorite God-glorifying music to enjoy together!
4
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 4
4/20/11 7:26:48 AM
Tailoring Your Sessions to the Ways Young Teens Learn
How do young teens learn? The answer to that question can be almost as varied as the young
teens in your group. Some learn best through words. Others through music. Still others
through nature or through movement.
Sessions in Dwell curriculum try to respect the many ways children and young teens learn.
Dwell sessions include a wide range of activities that speak to children and young teens with
the following types of intelligence (based on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences). Within each session, the icons below highlight the learning styles represented by
each activity. As you teach, you’ll begin to get a sense for how the young teens in your group
learn best. Young teens who are
Word Smart
learn best through verbal activities
(listening, reading, or speaking), including
discussions, worksheets, writing, reading,
storytelling, and word games.
Music Smart
learn best through sound, music, and
rhythm—playing musical instruments, writing their own songs and raps, listening to
recordings, singing, and so on.
Number Smart
learn best by exploring patterns and
relationships through activities such as
problem solving, logic puzzles or games,
making charts and graphs, or putting things
in sequence.
People Smart
learn best through doing things with
cooperating and working in small or large
groups, role playing, conversations, brainstorming, and other interactive exercises.
Picture Smart
learn best by visualizing concepts.
These kids enjoy viewing maps, slides, pictures, videos, and diagrams; making jigsaw
puzzles; and expressing their ideas with
shape, color, and design.
Body Smart
learn best by using their bodies, acting things out, using puppets, moving—
­anything hands-on.
Self Smart
learn best by working independently
through such things as writing in a journal,
meditating, reading, and reflecting.
Earth Smart
learn best through activities connected
to living things and natural phenomena,
through nature walks, examining plants and
animals, nature experiments, and activities
that focus on ecology.
—The ideas on this page are based on material from
the following resources: Multiple Intelligences in the
Classroom by Thomas Armstrong, © 2000, and a chart
prepared by Donald L. Griggs, Livermore, California.
5
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 5
4/20/11 7:26:49 AM
1
Belonging to Jesus
Scripture
Acts 16:16-25; Romans 14:8
Q&A 1*
Focus
I find comfort in belonging to Jesus Christ.
Faith Nurture Goals
• Experience the strength and joy of belonging to Christ.
• Practice seeking comfort in Christ during difficult circumstances.
• Hear stories of other Christians who found hope in Christ, even when they were
­mistreated and in danger.
• Describe why belonging to Jesus is important to us.
Memory Challenge
Romans 14:8
Reflection: Getting into the Story
As you begin teaching these middle school children, please note that the Dwell curriculum
for this age group changes its focus somewhat. It incorporates more doctrinal summary into
each session.
Why? Why not just stick with the biblical stories? What’s important about doctrine anyway?
The Bible is a big, sprawling, passionate story of God’s relentless love for the world he made.
There comes a time in reading and living into that story to summarize some of its truths into
a clearer, more concise understanding of who God is and who we are in relation to God.
These young teens are ready to think more deeply about God. One tool that will be used
to that end is Q&A: A Summary of Biblical Teachings—based on the Heidelberg Catechism. Q&A is a kind of shorthand version of the material the church has used
for centuries to summarize and systematize the truths of the Bible.
One more thing: the Catechism on which this summary is based is not a cold
or abstract summary of doctrine. It’s not just statements about God, but
zeroes in on what it means for us to be a child of God. It’s biblical doctrine
on a very personal level.
That focus is evident in the very first Q&A. “What is your only comfort as a
Christian? That I, body and soul, in life and death, belong to Jesus Christ.”
The comfort described here is not merely the ease of being comfortable, like
the feeling you get curled up by a warm fire with your fingers wrapped around
a hot drink. It is ultimate comfort, what remains when everything else falls
apart, the comfort that gets us through anything this life throws at us, even death
itself.
To grasp the reality of this ultimate comfort, you will be living into two powerful prison
stories, one from the Bible and one from recent history. In both stories, believers in Jesus
*For this level of Dwell, we often refer to doctrinal questions and answers. The Q&A’s come from
Q&A: A Summary of Biblical Teachings, a brief summary of Reformed doctrine based mainly on
the Heidelberg Catechism. A copy of Q&A: A Summary of Biblical Teachings can be purchased
from Faith Alive Christian Resources at www.faithaliveresources.org or 1-800-333-8300.
6
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 6
4/20/11 7:26:49 AM
Christ are helplessly caught in deep trouble. In both, the only thing that gets the believers
through is their faith that, no matter what happens to them, they belong to Jesus Christ.
What’s pictured here is not a sugarcoated faith or an easy comfort. It’s a sense of belonging
that can endure any hardship or danger. The picture of Paul and Silas singing hymns to their
Lord while in chains, their bodies racked with pain after being beaten to an inch of their
lives, says it all.
Likewise, Corrie and her sister Betsie endure the darkest time and place of the twentieth
century, slowly starving to death in a German concentration camp. Neither mistreatment,
nor disease, nor the pain of death itself can shake their faith and the ultimate comfort of
belonging to the One who held them in the palm of his hand.
As Paul put it in his letter to the Romans, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die
to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Rom. 14:8).
Wondering
• What doctrines have been most meaningful to you over the years?
• How do doctrine and Scripture interact in your faith life?
• Why is it that so often the darkest times bring out the brightest faith?
• What are some of the implications of belonging to Jesus Christ?
General Materials
Each session of Dwell includes
specific materials you’ll need for
teaching it, such as printable pages
or props to use for telling the story.
In addition, you’ll want to keep a
stash of the usual teaching supplies:
Bibles, pencils or pens, whiteboard
or newsprint, poster putty,
markers, and the like, including a
CD player or MP3 player.
Teaching
• You may wonder about the horrors and darkness of these stories and
whether they are appropriate for middle school youth. The fact is,
middle schoolers live with the very same fears and doubts we all do. They
know they can be shot in the schoolyard, struck down by a terrorist, or
mistreated by bullies. They need to know what they can ultimately hang
on to.
• Your teens are looking for authentic faith, real hope, deep love. Your
task in these years will be not just to teach truths about God, but to humbly demonstrate
from your own journey of faith, with its struggles and triumphs, what it means to belong
to Jesus Christ.
Session at a Glance
Steps
Time
Activities
Session-Specific Materials
Gathering for
God’s Story
5-8
Question
None needed
Entering the
Story
10-12
Prison story
Dive magazine
Story symbol (printable page 56)
Living into the
Story
15-20
Secret
worship
Candles and matches
Bible with concordance
Hymnals and songbooks
Christian music, optional
Living Out of
the Story
5-10
Triangle
reflection
Dive magazines
Memory Challenge cards (printable page 53 or 54), one per
person
Dear Family letter (printable page 52), one per person
Multiple
Intelligences
Prayer
7
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 7
4/20/11 7:26:50 AM
Step 1 Gathering for God’s Story
Today marks an exciting beginning! You may already know some of the young teens in your
group, but others you’ll meet for the very first time. Offer a friendly smile to each one who
walks through the door. Introduce yourself and learn everyone’s names. Middle schoolers
can be a self-conscious bunch, so the tone you set today will help them feel comfortable
with you and with the other members of your group. Chat about what they did this summer,
the beginning of the school year, or what’s happening around town as you wait for everyone
to arrive.
When you’re ready to begin, welcome your group and express how glad you are to be with
them. Share your desire not only to be a good leader but to learn with them and from them.
Encourage them to come each week expecting to discover new things about God and themselves. Tell them that you hope they’ll feel comfortable expressing their ideas, faith, and
doubts; asking questions about God; and sharing stories from their own lives. Ask every­
one to work together to help make this group a place where each person feels accepted,
­respected, and appreciated.
Let the young teens know that each time you meet you’ll begin with a question or short
activity to help you get ready to hear God’s Word. Spend a few minutes talking about this
question together (be sure to answer it along with everyone else).
If you could have one superpower—like seeing through walls or turning invisible—to
help you solve your problems, what would you choose? Why?
Tip
If you’re short on time, ask
everyone to share their
superpower with the person
sitting next to them.
When everyone has had the chance to answer, direct their attention
toward today’s topic. Mention that although we don’t have superpowers,
we do belong to an all-powerful Savior, Jesus. He knows every hair on our
head, loves us more than we can imagine, and promises that he’ll never
leave us or forsake us!
Close the gathering time with a prayer from Psalm 121:1-2. Teach the group
their line, and practice it once through before saying it together as a prayer:
Leader: I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
Group: My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Step 2 Entering the Story
Pass out pens and a copy of the Dive magazine for each person. Let the group know that
you’ll be using them for the next several sessions, and encourage everyone to write their
names somewhere on the back cover. Take time to draw or display the story symbol (printable page 56). You’ll be adding a new symbol each session. See page 3 of the introduction for
creative ways to display the symbols.
Tip
Before class, spend time preparing
to share Corrie’s dramatic story
with your group. Practice reading
it out loud with expression and
emotion. Don’t rush through the
story—give everyone time to look
at the photographs, to absorb what
you’re saying, and to ask questions
and wonder about what Corrie
and Betsie experienced.
Ask if anyone has heard of the ten Boom family and the courageous things
they did during the Holocaust. Preteens have probably studied the Holo­
caust in school and may have read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.
Tell them that like Anne and her family, the ten Booms lived in the Netherlands when the Nazis invaded their country during World War II.
Ask two people to read the sections called “The ten Boom House” and
“Locked up for Showing Love” on page 2 of the magazine. Then pick up
where they left off, sharing Corrie’s incredible story. Read all or just a few
of the excerpts to your group, depending on how much time you have.
But be sure to include “Under the Lightbulb” because the next part of the
8
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 8
4/20/11 7:26:50 AM
s­ ession builds on that story. Anyone who is interested can read the sections that you don’t
read together either after the session or at home when the unit is complete.
Step 3 Living into the Story
After you’ve shared Corrie’s story, ask your group this question:
Imagine that you are a prisoner at a Nazi war camp. What are some of the thoughts and
fears you might have? What would be the worst part of it for you?
Allow time for everyone to answer who wants to. Then mention that Corrie and Betsie
found deep hope and comfort in their relationship with God, even in this horrible situation. Next tell the group that in a few minutes you’ll be recreating the worship service that
Corrie and Betsie hosted at Ravensbrück and imagining that you’re there too, worshiping
along with them. Give everyone 3-5 minutes to work individually or with a partner to think
of a song, Bible passage, or encouraging word that they’d like to share to bring hope to other
“prisoners.” Assure them that they can read the lyrics for any song they’d like to use instead
of singing it.
Have a few hymnals or songbooks available, several Bibles, a CD or MP3 player, and any
youth-friendly Christian music you have with the lyrics printed inside the album jacket. Also
point out pages 6-7 in the magazine, which offer Scripture passages that
might be helpful.
Faith Modeling
Keep in mind that the young teens in your group may have a wide range of
Bible knowledge. If a person seems stuck, help him or her look up a few of
the passages suggested in the magazine. Bring along at least one Bible that
has a concordance so that if someone has trouble finding a verse, you can
show how to search for it by looking up key words.
This is a chance for everyone to
practice an important aspect of
Christian living. During hard times,
we need to know where to look in
Scripture to find words of comfort,
hope, and encouragement!
When everyone’s ready, dim the lights and light a candle or two (if
permitted by local fire ordinances and your building’s regulations) as you describe what
the imaginary prison camp around you looks like. Speak in a soft voice and try to create an
atmosphere of quiet anticipation. Encourage the group to huddle fairly close together on
the floor near the candles and away from the windows, out of sight of the guards. Then hold
your worship service, asking group members to share their songs, Scripture passages, or
thoughts. Wait until the end to share your portion.
When it’s your turn, tell your fellow “prisoners” that you’d like to read two things—the first
is a Bible passage that describes how Paul and Silas responded to being unfairly imprisoned,
the second is a statement of faith made by Christians long ago.
Read Acts 16:16-25 with expression from a modern translation of the
Bible or a paraphrase such as The Message by Eugene Peterson. Comment
on what a powerful example Paul and Silas are for you. Then read Q&A 1
from the Dive magazine (p. 8). Briefly (2-3 minutes at most) share what it
means to you to belong to Jesus and why you find that truth so comforting—especially during hard times.
End your secret service by blowing out the candles and turning on the
lights.
ReHformed
Our doctrine summarizes biblical
truth and helps us understand how
to apply Scripture to our everyday
lives. In this case, Q&A 1 declares
with conviction what Acts 16:16-25
describes through story—in times
of hardship we depend on
Jesus, who offers us lasting
comfort, peace, and joy.
9
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 9
4/20/11 7:26:50 AM
Faith Modeling
Young teens understand what
it means to belong to a family, a
sports team, or a group of friends,
but belonging to Jesus is a more
abstract idea. For them, comfort
usually comes in the form of hugs
or soothing words. The hope
we have in Jesus is different.
As you prepare for this session,
consider what Jesus means to
you, and think of some specific
ways you turn to him in hard times
and find his presence to be your
comfort. Speak briefly, but from
the heart—your experience will
provide a living, breathing example
of what Christ’s love can mean
for their lives as well.
Tip
Be sure to send the family letter
home with kids today so parents
and guardians know what’s going
on with your group. If you prefer,
go to www.dwellcurriculum.org to
find a version of the family letter
that you can send by email.
Tip
Copy the Memory Challenge cards
onto cardstock, then cut them
apart to distribute to the group.
To help encourage kids to use the
cards, consider punching a hole in
each and attaching it to a key ring
or small carabiner.
Step 4 Living Out of the Story
Move back to your usual seats and tell the group that although your lives
are very different from the lives of the people in this week’s stories, you do
go through some very hard times and sad experiences. You face real fears,
pain, and disappointment. Assure everyone that just like Corrie, Betsie,
Paul, and Silas, we can find hope and comfort in knowing that we belong
to the Savior of the world, who is with us in all circumstances, and who
has a purpose and plan for each of our lives!
Ask everyone to open their magazines once more to page 8, and hand out
pencils or pens. Mention that the triangle that appears on that page is
similar to one that the ten Booms put in the window of their clock shop. It
was a signal to their partners and to those who needed help that the coast
was clear and it was safe to enter the hiding place. Let your young teens
know that for the prisoners we’ve read about today and for us too, Jesus
is the safest hiding place. He welcomes us to enter his presence in prayer
and find healing, peace, and security in our relationship with him.
Give the group 3-5 minutes to reflect individually or pray silently about
the questions in the triangle. Play Christian music quietly in the background (for ideas see Easy Extras on pp. 10-11). When everyone is finished, close your time together in prayer, thanking God that you belong to
Jesus and asking God to use each one of you to offer encouragement and
hope to others this week.
Thank everyone for joining you for the first session, and let them know
you’re hoping to see them again next week! As they leave, hand out the
Memory Challenge cards from printable page 53 or 54 and collect the
magazines. Store them somewhere in the room for upcoming weeks.
Easy Extras
Here are some additional ideas you may choose to use along with or in
place of the activities suggested for this session:
1. Extra Questions
Option for Step 1: Gathering for God’s Story.
Time: 5-8 minutes
Materials: none
You may want to use one of these questions in place of the one suggested for the gathering
time:
• What are the three hardest things you see people your age facing?
• What was the best thing that happened to you this week? What was the worst?
2. Invite a Guest
Option for Step 2: Entering the Story.
Time: 10-12 minutes
Materials: guest speaker and books, maps, or photographs; optional
Instead of sharing excerpts from The Hiding Place, you may want to invite a guest to share a
personal story of God’s sustaining love through suffering or persecution. If possible, meet
with the guest speaker in advance or talk by phone to hear the story and offer feedback about
what’s relevant and age-appropriate for middle schoolers.
10
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 10
4/20/11 7:26:50 AM
Keep in mind that some of the young teens in your group may have their own stories of
persecution and suffering that they or their families have experienced as refugees or immi­
grants. Give them space to share their stories with the group if they’d like to, but be sensitive
to the strong feelings that might be associated with these memories. Pray as a group for their
comfort and peace and the ongoing safety of their families.
If some or all of the young teens in your group come from cultures or countries that have
experienced persecution similar to that experienced by the ten Booms or Paul and Silas, you
may be able to find a story that’s more meaningful to the children than The Hiding Place. For
example, Laotian, Cambodian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hispanic, South African, Sudanese,
Palestinian, First Nation, Native American, and African American people, as well as many,
many others, have suffered or are suffering persecution of various kinds and intensities. For
ideas, speak to families within your church community, visit your local library, or contact
the world relief and mission organizations associated with your church.
3. Meaningful Music
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: iPod or MP3 player with speakers, online access to downloadable music, or a CD
player and the CDs listed below
If you have a little extra time and access to an iPod or other MP3 player or CD player, play a
song that relates to today’s session. Here are some ideas:
• “You Are My World” by The Washington Projects, from the album Light Up the Dark
• “You Are My Hope” by Skillet, from the album Alien Youth
• “My Hope Is in You” by Third Day, from the album Offerings
Or choose another song that focuses on Christ as our hope and our help. Use the song either
during the worship service in Step 2 or during the time of reflection in Step 4. Play some or
all of it, and encourage everyone to listen and make it their prayer.
4. Pray for the Persecuted Church
Time: 5-8 minutes
Materials: computer with Internet access, printer, globe or world map; optional
As part of your closing prayer, you may want to remember Christians around the world who
face intense persecution every day. Visit www.idop.org, the website for the International
Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and look under “Resources” to download the most
recent prayer map. Involve the young teens in prayer by encouraging each of them to lift up
the Christians in one or more of the countries that are included in the prayer map.
5. Prisoners of the Bible Crossword Puzzle
Time: 5-10 minutes
Materials: Printable page 55, one copy per person
If some people in your group arrive early, stay late, or finish any of the activities before
­others, they may enjoy working on the “Prisoners of the Bible” crossword puzzle. Make as
many copies ahead of time as you think you might use.
6. Memory Challenge Ideas
Dive offers selected portions of Scripture for memorization. Within a given unit, some
repetition of the ­Memory Challenges occurs to help everyone retain the memorized verses
for a longer period of time. You’ll also notice that within the overall Dwell curriculum many
Scripture passages suggested for memorization reappear at the various levels.
Here are some suggestions for learning the Memory Challenge during your sessions:
11
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 11
4/20/11 7:26:51 AM
Chain Reaction
One person begins saying the Memory Challenge. At a signal from you, he or she stops, and
you point to another person, who takes over where the first person left off. This keeps everyone alert and involved!
Tip
You can help your group learn the
Memory Challenge during each
session by using one or more of
the suggestions described here.
Naturally, you will want to learn all
assigned Memory Challenges along
with the young teens.
Disappearing Words
Before the session begins, write the Bible verse on a board/newsprint.
Have everyone say it together. Then erase a few words. Have everyone
say it again, remembering the erased words. Continue erasing words and
repeating until almost all of the Memory Challenge has been erased.
Reading
Have young teens divide the Scripture passage into a responsive reading
for two groups. Group 1 reads a line, group 2 reads the next, and so on.
This would make a nice ending to the gathering step, or a nice close of the
session before final prayer.
Writing the Passage
Ask the group to write the passage on note cards from memory. When you give young teens a
choice of either writing or reciting, you enable them to show their mastery of the material in
a way that feels most comfortable to them.
Reciting in Unison
Instead of calling on individuals to recite, have the entire group say all or part of the passage
in unison. This can work well whenever the passage is read during the session—pause and
ask everyone to repeat it along with the reader.
12
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 12
4/20/11 7:26:51 AM
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 13
4/20/11 7:26:51 AM
2
What We Need to Know
Scripture
Acts 16:25-40
Q&A 2
Focus
My heart knows three things that assure me I belong to Jesus. First, how I sin everyday;
­second, how Jesus saves me from my sin; and third, how I can show my thanks by serving
God.
Faith Nurture Goals
• Imagine ourselves in the place of the jailer in today’s story.
• Be aware of our own sin and need for a Savior.
• Identify ways to show thanks to God for the salvation he gives us through Christ.
Memory Challenge
Acts 16:31a
Reflection: Getting into the Story
In the first session we focused on the first half of this amazing story. We saw what faith
meant and looked like in the most difficult circumstances. Paul and Silas, beaten, chained,
and exhausted, sang songs of praise to the God to whom they belonged. Their vibrant faith
served as a testimony to their fellow prisoners, and, we marvel, to their hard-bitten jailer.
The jailer was almost certainly a cynical, tough, retired Roman soldier. Any sensitivity or
gentleness had been squeezed out of him by his hard experience as a soldier and the expected cruelty of an imperial jailer. His first thought after discovering the prison’s open doors
was to assume the prisoners had escaped. His only recourse, suicide. But before he could fall
on his sword, Paul stopped him. “Don’t harm yourself; we’re all here!”
Kneeling, trembling at the apostles' feet, this cruel agent of Roman punishment asked Paul
and Silas the strangest question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Where did that come from? Part of the explanation may come from the fact that
the jailer was on the premises and had heard the strange sounds of Paul and
Silas’s singing. Perhaps he wondered what kind of God inspired singing in jail.
But there is a mystery here too—the mystery of how anyone comes to faith
in Jesus Christ. Only God’s Spirit, working in the human heart, can cause
such a change.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
The apostle’s reply is certainly a summary of a long conversation, with
many questions and answers and many stories about Jesus. The result was
a miracle of salvation as the jailer believed, and he with his entire household
was baptized.
Note that the jailer’s household is mentioned twice. Often in Acts, Luke empha­
sizes that one person’s coming to faith affects the entire household. Coming to
faith isn’t just an individual experience; it happens within a natural social context
such as a family or a community. That’s one reason why we baptize not only adults but their
children.
The Q&A for today asks, “What must you know to have this comfort [of belonging to Jesus]?
14
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 14
4/20/11 7:26:51 AM
This sounds very much like a merely cognitive thing, knowing and accepting certain facts.
It’s clear that the jailer had to know some things about Jesus to put his faith in him. But the
knowledge we need is more than head knowledge, it’s heart knowledge. It’s the personal,
heartfelt recognition of my own sin, it’s trusting in Jesus with all my heart, and it’s making
the commitment to live for him.
The Q&A (and the catechism on which it’s based) describes this knowledge in three steps,
sometimes summarized as guilt, grace, and gratitude. Of course, this is not a rigidly programmed process of salvation. While containing these three elements, the pattern may
be different in each individual case. I’ve known people, for example, who begin by serving
Christ, and only later do they come to discover their deep need of a Savior. The point is that
these are the three irreducible elements in becoming a Christ-follower.
Wondering
• Why was the jailer going to kill himself?
• What part has your “household” played in your own coming to faith in Christ?
• How do the three things we must know to be saved operate in your life? How do you experience them?
Teaching
• As you lead your kids in discovering the how of salvation, it’s important
to reflect as much as possible on the spiritual condition of each one.
Think about those who have been baptized, those who think of themselves as believers, and those who have serious questions or doubts
about the faith.
• You may be wondering about the usefulness of talking about the how of
salvation with young people who have never expressed the need to be
saved. Isn’t that putting the answer before the question? Whether or
not the question of how is burning in their hearts, knowing the answer
will serve them well as they mature and experience the ups and downs
of life.
General Materials
Each session of Dwell includes
specific materials you’ll need for
teaching it, such as printable pages
or props to use for telling the story.
In addition, you’ll want to keep a
stash of the usual teaching supplies:
Bibles, pencils or pens, whiteboard
or newsprint, poster putty,
markers, and the like, including a
CD player or MP3 player.
Session at a Glance
Steps
Time
Activities
Session-Specific Materials
Gathering for
God’s Story
7-10
Question
Dive magazines
A photograph of yourself, optional
Entering the
Story
5-7
Living into the
Story
15-20
Story
melodrama
and
discussion
Character nametags (printable page 58)
Skit script (printable page 57)
Living Out of
the Story
10-15
Blotting
out sin
Dive magazines
Music, optional
Memory Challenge cards (printable page 53 or 54), one per
person
Prayer
Review
Multiple
Intelligences
Story symbols (printable page 56)
Bible story
Prayer
15
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 15
4/20/11 7:26:51 AM
Step 1 Gathering for God’s Story
Welcome your group. If you can, try to greet each person by name, introducing yourself
to any who are new this week. Let them know you are glad to be with them again and that
you’re looking forward to spending this time together.
Pass out the Dive magazines and ask everyone turn to pages 10-11 as you ask the opening
question for this session. (Don’t be afraid to be a bit silly—have fun with this question!)
Tip
You may want to repeat some
of what was said in week 1 about
being the kind of group where
people feel comfortable being
themselves and safe sharing
their thoughts (see p. 8).
If you could try out any hairstyle just for one day, what would you
choose? (Curly, straight, short, long, electric blue highlights, Mohawk, bald,
etc.)
After everyone has had the chance to answer, transition into the focus
of today’s session by describing the hairstyle you had when you came to
know that you belong to God. If possible, bring a picture of yourself at
that stage of life so your group can admire your slick sense of style, or
laugh with you over your decades-old hairdo! Use the photo to briefly
share how you discovered God’s love in a real and personal way. Maybe you’ve always known
God’s love and presence in your life or maybe God used a specific event or person to draw
you near. Tell what it was like for you to recognize your need for the forFaith Modeling
giveness and belonging that Jesus offers.
When talking about your faith,
it’s always important to make it
clear that you haven’t “arrived”
spiritually—that you’re not
perfect. Like everyone else, you
are still learning and growing.
Wrap up by referring to the quote from the Heidelberg Catechism found
on page 11 of the magazine. “[Jesus] also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in
heaven.” Mention that this quote is from the longer version of Q&A 1 that
your group talked about last week. The shorter version is found on page 8
of the magazine:
Q. What is your only comfort as a Christian?
A. That I, body and soul, in life and death, belong to Jesus Christ.
Close Step 1 by using this responsive reading found on page 9 of the magazine to pray
together:
Leader: Powerful God, it’s great to know that every "body and soul" detail of our
lives is in your care.
Group: Even the hairs on our head!
Everyone: Thank you for loving us from head to toe, inside and out. Amen!
Tip
Ask one of the preteens in your
group to sketch the symbols.
Or make a copy of the week 1
and week 2 story symbols found
on printable page 56. Cut them
apart and attach each one to
a colorful piece of cardstock.
Then use poster putty to secure
them to the wall after you show
them to the group. If you do this
week after week you’ll create
a growing collage of all the
stories you’ve shared!
Step 2 Entering the Story
Either display the printable page of the story symbol from last
week (prison bars with music notes coming through), or sketch it
on your board or newsprint. As you draw, ask the group to recall
why Paul and Silas were in prison and what gave them hope while they
were there. Listen for their answers, and then draw or display the new
symbol for this week’s story: broken prison bars.
Hand out Bibles and ask everyone to look up Acts 16:25-40. Choose a few
volunteers to read it out loud as the rest of you follow along silently.
16
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 16
4/20/11 7:26:52 AM
Step 3 Living into the Story
Next, invite the group to dive into the action of the story by performing it
together as a spontaneous melodrama.
A melodrama is a type of skit that uses exaggerated acting to emphasize
the action and emotion in a story. It’s hard to imagine a more exciting
story than a miraculous earthquake jailbreak that led to the salvation of a
whole family!
Tip
Before this session, prepare the
maximum number of nametags
(from printable page 58) you
think you will need. If you have a
small group, discard non-essential
characters like “earthquake”
and “jailhouse.” If you have
a large group, add additional
family members, prisoners, or
“jailhouses” and “earthquakes.”
Pull out your copy of the skit script (printable page 57) and assign every­
one a part in the skit by passing out the character nametags (printable
page 58) along with a piece of tape. Choose the most outgoing youth who
enjoy the spotlight to play the main characters. Ask everyone to attach the
tag the front of their shirt, where everyone can see it. Let the group know that the “characters” may also include important objects in the story:
• Paul
• Silas
• Jailer
• Prisoner (optional)
• Jailhouse (optional)
• Jailer’s family (optional)
• Earthquake (optional)
Clear a space in the room (or move to a larger room) so that everyone can
stand and move around for this skit. Tell the young teens to listen for their
cue and to act in ways that reflect the story as it is being read. Let them
know that when their character has a line, they’ll need to listen for it and
then repeat their line with intense emotion and expression. Encourage
“Paul” and “Silas” to belt out a song with gusto when singing is mentioned, and the “Jailer” to wail dramatically and fall to the ground with
fear—it won’t take long for your group to catch on!
Tip
Kids who are playing the
“jailhouse” could simply raise
their arms up and form a roof—let
them be creative but be ready to
encourage and give ideas if they
need help.
You may want to practice by reading a few lines of the script and coaching your group. When
everyone understands their role, read the story from the script slowly (but enthusiastically), emphasizing character’s names (in caps) and the action words (in bold). Some small
prompts from you may be necessary as the story progresses. Have fun as you narrate this
“spontaneous skit”—the group will follow your lead, so break a leg!
When you’re finished acting out the story, have everyone take their seats to talk about it
together using some or all of these questions:
• Between the earthquake and the jailbreak, this was a stressful
Faith Modeling
night for the jailer! I wonder what was going through his mind
This first question offers an
when he woke up and realized that the jailhouse was open.
opportunity for you to relate to the
• Has God ever caught your attention in a surprising, unexpected,
jailer’s experience by telling a story
or scary situation? What was going through your mind at the
about how a scary or unexpected
time? Did you discover anything new about God or yourself?
event in your life brought to mind
• The jailer blurted out a big question, “What must I do to be
questions about God.
saved?” What do you think he meant by that? What answer do you
think he was hoping for?
• What questions do you wonder about God? What are you hoping to discover?
17
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 17
4/20/11 7:26:52 AM
Be sure to affirm the questions that are offered, and include questions you wonder about as
well.
• If you were Paul or Silas, what would you have said in response to the jailer’s q
­ uestion?
Tip
It’s important for young teens to have a place to grapple with questions of faith and the space to make
discoveries and verbalize their faith. Everyone will naturally direct comments and questions to you.
Instead of answering right away, draw the group into dialog by asking questions like, “Has anyone else
thought about that?” and “What do the rest of you think?” Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion
in meaningful directions. Look for opportunities to follow up afterward with anyone who has more
questions or who expresses an interest in knowing more about Jesus.
Step 4 Living Out of the Story
After the discussion, hand out pens or pencils and ask everyone to turn to pages 12-13 in
their Dive magazines. Encourage one or two people to read the story summary at the top of
page 12 that ends with the Q&A for today’s session.
Encourage the group to spend the next 5-8 minutes thinking individually about what this
question means in their own lives by reading and filling out pages 12-13 in their magazines,
writing their answers in the white space within each hand that appears on those pages.
Let everyone get up and spread out around the room, if they’d like. Assure them that no one
else will read their answers, and they won’t have to share them with the group. Be sure to fill
in your own answers too!
Consider playing some quiet music or turning the lights down to add to the reflective mood
of this activity.
After about 5 minutes or when everyone seems to be finishing up, gather the group back together in a circle. Hold up a jar of whiteout and tell the group that you want them to experience the joy of forgiveness, which is part of salvation. Point out that salvation appears in the
second part of today’s Q&A. Let them know that when we ask for forgiveness, God covers
over our sins so that they can’t be seen or counted against us anymore. Because of what
Jesus did on the cross, we can have a fresh new start! That’s grace!
Open your Bible to Isaiah 43:25 and read out loud how God describes forgiveness in this passage: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers
your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25).
Then silently open your own magazine to pages 12-13 and use the whiteout to cover over the
words you’ve written in the fist next to the “Guilt” section, as the group watches. Pass the
whiteout to the person next to you and encourage him or her to do the same, p
­ assing it along
to the next person until everyone has had the chance to use it. Ask the group to consider this
a sacred moment to spend in thought or prayer.
Consider saying this verse out loud (in full or in part) while each young person is blotting
out the words on the paper. Include the person’s first name to personalize it. Or say it after
everyone has had the chance to participate:
All of us fall short, all of us sin, all of us need to be made right with God. It’s Jesus who
saves us from our sins. It’s Jesus who sets us free. [Name], receive God’s forgiveness.
­Receive God’s love. Receive God’s grace; it’s a free gift—with no strings attached (adapted from Romans 3:22-25a).
18
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 18
4/20/11 7:26:52 AM
End this special time together by offering a heartfelt prayer of gratitude
for the love, forgiveness, and salvation God offers us through Jesus
Christ. Close the session by sharing this final thought from Scripture:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God
so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen
God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made
complete in us” (1 John 4:10-12).
ReHformed
Belief isn’t just an intellectual
exercise; it’s a Spirit-initiated heart
conviction that transforms the way
we live! God is busy reclaiming and
redeeming all of creation through
Jesus Christ, and we get to be part of
that as we show love to others and
serve God with our lives.
Pass out the new Memory Challenge cards (from printable page 53 or 54)
as everyone heads out the door.
Easy Extras
Here are some additional ideas you may choose to use along with or in place of the activities
suggested for this session.
1. Early Arrival
Time: 5-10 minutes
Materials: Dive magazines, one per person
If some of your group arrives early, or if you have a little extra time, have your group open
their magazines to page 9 and fill out their profiles. Share a few highlights together before
moving into Step 1.
2. First-Person Tableaus
Option for Step 3: Living into the Story.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: none
Instead of using the melodrama to help your group retell the story in Step 3, you could split
into groups of two or three (or stay together as one group if you have three or fewer members) and ask each group to come up with three scenes that represent the experiences of one
of the people in today’s story (maybe the jailer, Paul, Silas, another prisoner, or one of the
jailer’s children). Encourage the groups to choose three moments that seem important and
imitate the emotion and actions of that moment by freezing in a pose.
Give the groups about 5 minutes to work together before asking each pair or trio to retell the
story through the three tableaus they’ve chosen. As each group shares, ask why they chose
those moments in the story and what seems meaningful about them. Draw from some of the
questions under Step 3 on pages 17-18 to help the groups think about ways they might relate
to what the person in their scenes was experiencing.
3. Memory Challenge
Time: 3-5 minutes
Materials: Memory Challenge cards (printable page 53 or 54), one for each person
To incorporate the new Memory Challenge into today’s session, print copies of the card for
each person. Introduce the Scripture passage after your group reads the story at the end
of Step 2. Use one of the Memory Challenge ideas on page 12 of the leader’s guide (from
­session 1).
19
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 19
4/20/11 7:26:52 AM
4. Serving Our “Thanks!”
Option for Step 4: Living Out of the Story.
Time: 15 minutes
Materials: board/newsprint, chalk/marker, and other supplies depending the service
­project your group decides on
This option will be helpful if you’re looking for an alternative for the whiteout portion of
Step 4. Have your group reflect on guilt, grace, and gratitude in the Dive magazine just as it
says in the beginning of Step 4, then use this step to help them express gratitude for the gift
of salvation through Christ.
Brainstorm a way that your group can say thanks to God by showing love to others or caring
for God’s creation. Tap into the passions of the youth in your group to plan a service project
that everyone will get excited about. Use a board or newsprint to list everyone’s ideas, and
then talk over the logistics of each (the drivers needed, schedules, adult supervision, supplies or expenses involved, and so on), until you find something that everyone agrees on.
Before you finalize the plans, be sure to review your church’s policies for child safety involving outings and events, and check in with the children’s ministry director, pastor, or a member of the church council to make sure you have permission to plan an offsite project. Then
make the phone call to schedule the project for your group. Write a brief note describing
what you’ll be doing, including relevant details like the time, date, location, what everyone
needs to bring, leaders’ names, and contact information. Make copies and attach them to
the slip your church uses for events that include children and youth. Pass out the notes and
permission slips the following week and be clear about the date you’ll need permission slips
returned.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
• Create care packages for relatives or church members who are away at college or in the
military.
• Assign ingredients and get together to cook a meal for families staying at a local Ronald
McDonald House. Or collect pop can tabs if a Ronald McDonald House near you offers
that program. (Visit www.rmhc.org to find out more.)
• Help keep a local street or park clean by “adopting” it and collecting garbage together a
few times throughout the year. Your town may even have a community program that offers grants for groups who participate in road cleanup projects.
• If your church is part of a denomination, visit the denomination’s website for other service project ideas.
Close the session with a heartfelt prayer of gratitude for the salvation that God offers each
of you through Jesus Christ and the comfort of knowing that you belong to God. Pass out the
new Memory Challenge cards (from printable page 53 or 54) as everyone heads out the door.
20
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 20
4/20/11 7:26:52 AM
Dive
Dear Family,
This year our group will experience the true story of God’s love shaping our lives! It can be hard to hear the
Good Shepherd’s voice over the buzz of screens, smart phones, and social media; that’s why our time to­
gether is so precious. Each week we’ll hit the “pause” button in our busy lives so we can dive into God’s story
and listen, imagine, wonder, create, discover, and grow!
For the next six weeks we’ll be exploring what it means to belong to Jesus and reflecting on our need
for a ­Savior. We will dive into these stories, pairing them with important teachings from the Reformed/­
Presbyterian confessions:
Week 1: Acts 16:16-25. Belonging to Jesus (Paul and Silas in Prison)
Week 2: Acts 16:25-40. What We Need to Know (Earthquake,
Jailbreak, and the Jailer’s Conversion)
Week 3: Genesis 4:1-16. In Need of Forgiveness (Cain Kills Abel)
Week 4: Genesis 3. The Way We Are (Adam and Eve Sin)
Week 5: Genesis 6-9. Our Just and Loving God (Noah and the Flood)
Week 6: Luke 1:76-77. Jesus, Our Savior (John Prepares the Way for Jesus and Baptizes Him)
Pass it On
Here are two ideas for talking about faith with your young teen:
• Pull out some old photos of yourself as a child, teen, or young adult and have fun together laughing at
your hairstyles and clothes. Talk about how old you were when you came to know in your heart that you
belong to God. What was that like for you?
• Young teens have turbulent lives! The next time a crisis erupts, take a minute to share how your
­relationship with Jesus has given you comfort during a difficult time.
If talking about faith doesn’t come naturally to you, start small. Even a brief conversation can leave a
­lasting impression!
Sincerely,
P.S. Check out www.NurtureKidsFaith.org for more faith-building ideas for home!
52
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 52
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 1
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
4/20/11 7:27:01 AM
Memory Challenge Cards (NIV)
Session 1
Memory Challenge
If we live, we live for the Lord; and
if we die, we die for the Lord. So,
­whether we live or die, we ­belong to
the Lord.
Session 2
Memory Challenge
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved.”
—Acts 16:31a, NIV
—Romans 14:8, NIV
Session 3
Memory Challenge
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your
mind.’ This is the first and greatest
­commandment. And the second is
like it: ‘Love your ­neighbor as yourself.’”
Session 4
Memory Challenge
If we live, we live to the Lord; and
if we die, we die to the Lord. So,
whether we live or die, we belong to
the Lord.
—Romans 14:8, NIV
—Matthew 22:37-39, NIV
Session 5
Memory Challenge
Session 6
Memory Challenge
If we confess our sins, he is
­faithful and just and will forgive
us our sins and purify us from all
­unrighteousness.
“For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that
­whoever believes in him shall not
­perish but have eternal life.”
—1 John 1:9, NIV
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 53
—John 3:16, NIV
Year 1, Unit 1, Sessions 1-6
53
4/20/11 7:27:01 AM
Memory Challenge Cards (NRSV)
Session 1
Memory Challenge
If we live, we live to the Lord; and
if we die, we die to the Lord. So,
whether we live or die, we are the
Lord’s.
Session 2
Memory Challenge
“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved.”
—Acts 16:31a, NRSV
—Romans 14:8, NRSV
Session 3
Memory Challenge
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love
the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a
second is like it: ‘You shall love your
neighbor as ­yourself.’”
Session 4
Memory Challenge
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if
we die, we die to the Lord; so then,
whether we live or whether we die,
we are the Lord’s.
—Romans 14:8, NRSV
—Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV
Session 5
Memory Challenge
If we confess our sins, he who is
­faithful and just will forgive us
our sins and cleanse us from all
­unrighteousness.
—1 John 1:9, NRSV
54
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 54
Year 1, Unit 1, Sessions 1-6
Session 6
Memory Challenge
“For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son, so that everyone
who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life.”
—John 3:16, NRSV
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
4/20/11 7:27:01 AM
Prisoners of the Bible
The answers to this crossword puzzle are all prisoners
or captives mentioned in the
Bible. Look up each Scripture
passage and write the name of
the prisoner mentioned in it.
11.
14.
17.
19.
11.
12.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Mark 6
Acts 16
Acts 4
Matthew 26
Genesis 37
2 Kings 24
2 Kings 23
2 Kings 17
Daniel 1
Daniel 1
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
18.
10.
12.
13.
Jeremiah 37
Acts 16
Daniel 1
Acts 6
Genesis 14
Judges 16
Daniel 1
2 Kings 25
Acts 4
Acts 5
1````````2``3`
`
`
`
`
`
`
4`5`6
7````
8 `
`
` ` `
`
`
`
` ` `
`
9```` `
`
` 0
`
`
`
`
-````` =````q````
`
`
` `
`
`
`
`
w```````
`
`
`
`
`
e`````
`
`
r`````
`
`
t``````
`
The Persecuted Church Today
Like Paul and Silas from today’s story, many Christians around the world are imprisoned or in danger
because they believe in Jesus and want to tell others about his love. You can help by praying that they will
be strong and courageous as they share God’s love, and that Jesus will protect them and fill them with
peace. Visit www.idop.org and look under “Resources” to download a prayer map that will help you pray
for Christians in specific countries around the world.
Pray also for those who don’t yet know Christ—that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of teens,
preteens, kids, and adults so that they can come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 55
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 1
55
4/20/11 7:27:02 AM
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 1
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 2
56
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 56
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
4/20/11 7:27:02 AM
Spontaneous Skit of Acts 16:25-34
(adapted from The Message)
Our scene takes place in the middle of the night.
PAUL and SILAS were locked up in a JAILHOUSE.
Even though all the other PRISONERS were trying to sleep, PAUL and SILAS were
wide awake, praying, and singing songs to God.
Then, without warning, came a huge EARTHQUAKE! The whole JAILHOUSE shook
and almost fell down! The doors to the JAILHOUSE flew open and the PRISONERS
ran around loose.
The JAILER was lying outside on the ground, sleeping and snoring—but when
he heard the sound of the EARTHQUAKE, he leapt to his feet and looked around
­frantically.
When he saw that the JAILHOUSE doors were wide open, he groaned with despair.
The JAILER pulled out his sword from the sheath at his side and, figuring he was as
good as dead anyway, was about to do himself in.
Sudden, he heard a voice. It was PAUL, trying to stop him.
PAUL said, “Don’t do that! (Pause for actor to repeat.)
We’re all still here! (Pause.)
Nobody’s run away!” (Pause.)
The JAILER got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, the JAILER collapsed in front
of PAUL and SILAS.
The JAILER led PAUL AND SILAS out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, (pause for actor to
repeat) what must I do to be saved, to really live?” (Pause.)
PAUL and SILAS said together, “Put your entire trust in the Master, Jesus. (Pause for
actors to repeat.) Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your
household included!” (Pause.)
They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family heard
the story and believed. The JAILER and his entire family had put their trust in God;
everyone in the house was in on the celebration.
(End the skit in celebration—encourage the group to clap, whistle, and cheer!)
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 57
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 2
57
4/20/11 7:27:02 AM
Story Character Nametags
Paul
Silas
Jailer
Prisoner
Prisoner Earthquake
Earthquake Jailhouse
Jailhouse
Jailer’s
family
58
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_text.indd 58
Year 1, Unit 1, Session 2
Jailer’s
family
Dwell, © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Permission granted to
reprint this page for standard classroom use. www.faithaliveresources.org
4/20/11 7:27:02 AM
Year 1
Unit 1 What Do I Do When Things Fall Apart?
Unit 2 What’s the Covenant All About?
Unit 3 Who Is God?
Unit 4 Who Is Jesus?
Unit 5 Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Unit 6 What Is the Church?
Year 2
Unit 1 What Is Being a Christian All About?
Unit 2 What’s with All the Rules?
Unit 3 Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Unit 4 Who’s Number 1?
Unit 5 Does What I Do Make a Difference?
Unit 6 What Do I Say When I Pray?
RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Youth
ISBN 978-1-59255-648-9
www.FaithAliveResources.org
32507 DW Dive_y1u1_lg_cover.indd 200
036115
4/20/11 7:30:07 AM